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Drivers Advised to Fill Up Before UK Heatwave Returns

Higher air‑conditioning use cuts fuel economy for many drivers.

Overview

  • The Met Office forecast this weekend warns a return of hot weather starting Sunday with a peak early next week and temperatures of about 30–34°C in parts of southern England.
  • News outlets are urging motorists to top up before Monday because hotter conditions and heat-driven driving habits can make cars use fuel faster than usual.
  • The US Department of Energy says heavy air‑conditioning use can reduce conventional vehicle fuel economy by more than 25% on short trips, which is the main reason consumption rises in heat.
  • RAC figures show pump prices remain high at roughly 154.72p per litre for petrol and 174.30p per litre for diesel, increasing the cost of avoidable fuel waste.
  • The RAC has debunked the myth that filling a tank in hot weather risks an explosion while warning that high temperatures can make fuel gauges less reliable and raise the risk of engine overheating.